Status check

Well, here's a picture of my bike computer showing my total mileage for the year. I was able to do a fair amount of riding, and took a few outstanding trips. My overall season goal was to reach 3000 miles. Well I obviously didn't do that. I was distracted, in so many ways:  house renovation projects, my pregnant wife, a cranky but super fun toddler, new baby, walks to the beach, camping, trips to the cabin, walks to the park, neighborhood BBQs, extreme heat. You get the picture, fitting a ride in just isn't that easy anymore. So the fact that I logged as many, and the quality of miles as I did makes me pretty happy. Having kids is so much fun, and my wife rocks! So much of the time I used to have to ride is spent at the park or beach, making laps around the block, having snacks, changing diapers, or whatever else you do as a dad/husband/homeowner. I can't say I'm disappointed about not reaching my goal. My time was was spent in any case.

I've got 'adventure' on my mind

I've mentioned my friend Frank before. Well, one of our first conversations was about an adventure he embarked upon with a friend, more specifically it was via bike. It totally flipped a switch in my brain. Now, that coupled with the relentless Googling I've done since to see where and how I can get some adventuring in my own little world just bounces around in the back of my head most days.
Anyway, that's what I'm thinking about in most of my free time. What does adventure mean to me? How can I get some? Is it even tangible, or is it a state of mind, or can it be predicted or expected? I think what I've decided to believe, and these words are not entirely my own, is that "adventure is holding your breathe for that extra three seconds." I have begun to try and keep that thought front of mind, and it has come in handy on many occasions already. For example, the million or so times that my son wakes up in the night and I'm exhaustedly rocking him back to sleep, that situation could go in a lot of directions, many of which aren't good. So I tell myself, hang in there for a few more swings, you'll live to tell about, and I do. I can sleepily tell my coworkers why I didn't shower and I'm wearing almost the same thing as yesterday. Adventures in parenting. Another place I apply this thought is at the gym, in spin class. Step it up a few RPM, or actually hang on for the final 3 counts of the interval. Those actions take me places too, because then I think of how those are the efforts that will really power me in a race some day.
The last place I'll mention I've incorporated this way of thinking is in my job. I can use it as a tool to help me be more deliberate in my strategies because what I find to be very difficult these days is the planning components that are necessary for me to perform well. So I keep in mind now that if I can see in my mind all the steps necessary to get me to the next milestone, then I'm ready to take action. And that takes a considerable amount of effort; the reward is worth it.
So there you have it, my thoughts on adventuring.

Sent from my iPhone

Taking Felix to the races

I know I may be pushing my luck with how much bikey stuff I expose Ami to, but I think she has good time. So, to be fair I thought I'd give Felix a taste too. Even though he didn't stay awake for much of it, you can't say he doesn't have a cool style.

I'm not the only one that loves to ride a bike

There's room for more than one cyclist at our house! Here's a pic of Ami lining up for her first race at the first annual Southside Sprint. She was definitely a crowd pleaser and likely one of the youngest racers. She could have a bright future...

Bike packing, it's my new road trip

I couple years ago now, just days after we moved into our new house and neighborhood we attended the block party. National Night Out. That's where I met my buddy Frank, who got me thinking in a new way. He told a few stories about his adventures by bike. We got out on one together this season. We rode from our street, we live just a few doors apart, up to St. Croix Falls, WI to camp overnight. What a trip! We didn't end up camping because there were no sites left, but we had a few beers, swam in the river, stuffed ourselves at the Winery, and then had a really wet ride home the next day.
I'll definitely be doing more of these.
Here is a pic of Frank leading the way to the Gateway Trail, past the Capitol.

Born to shred

This girl was apparently born to shred. That's one of my old snowboards that I dug out to finally sell. While I was putting a Craigslist add together she helped herself to a little shred session. Damn I love her!

My blog, 2.0

Well, I'm sure this isn't a first in the blogosphere, I got distracted and a bit lazy about this whole blog thing and let it slip away. You see, I had good intentions, and the content was there. But I couldn't pull it together. I could make a lot of different excuses, like my wife is a laptop hogger, my kids are so demanding of my time, I work too much, etc. And those are all legit distractions and limiting factors, but the real reason most likely is that I am forgetful, and all the times that I really think I have something great to blog about I am not in a place to capture those thoughts, probably the most epic of ramblings. From there I always feel like I should just wait to regain those amazing thoughts....its a vicious and sad cycle of procrastination.

Anyway, I'm going to take another crack at this. This time around anything goes, you can look forward to some flashbacks to this past riding season, likely a bit about the birth of my son, adventures in daddy daycare land, and if all goes well maybe a few words about my foray into XC skiing.

Peace.

My first real ride of the season with my favorite little lady. We logged a few hundred miles in the Burley this year!